After the final bolt was screwed in, the last rubber-mat-tile installed, and swings hung, the Grand Crossing Playground was officially dedicated on August 9, 2010! The Chicago Park District, Grand Crossing Park Advisory Council, Chatham Avalon Community Council, Friends of the Parks, Children’s Memorial Hospital, Kohl’s Department Stores, State Representative Marlow Colvin and the Chicago Wolves were present to celebrate the opening of the south side’s only community built playground. This playground was constructed by over 100 strong volunteers over the course of 2 days in June.  Volunteers installed five slides, two towers, two sets of swings and a six-panel climbing wall under the direction of the playground manufacturer’s representative as well as that of an experienced playground contractor.      

CeCe Edwards, President of the Grand Crossing PAC presented supporters of the playground with awards of distinction for their tireless efforts.   State Representative Marlow Colvin was introduced as a “best friend of Chicago’s parks” by Ms. Edwards.   Representative Colvin reminisced about his childhood spent in Chicago’s parks and stressed that parks “should be safe havens where kids can be kids. Communities need to make sure they are doing everything to make parks safe and beautiful places that unite communities”.  Representative Colvin added that parks are at the top of his agenda, and he challenged other public officials to do the same.

State Representative Marlow Colvin and Kohl’s Department Stores and Children’s Memorial Hospital are indeed best friends of parks.  Their efforts secured $228,000.00 to build this playground and make the Grand Crossing PAC’s dream come true!